Apple is gearing up to launch the next iPhone SE in March 2025, with production expected to commence this December. The Apple community eagerly anticipates the arrival of this new device.

Revamping the iPhone SE

This upcoming model will be the fourth iteration of the iPhone SE since its initial launch in 2016. Previous versions were released in 2020 and 2022, featuring updated hardware. The iPhone SE serves as Apple’s sole mid-range smartphone, providing a budget-friendly entry point into the Apple ecosystem, especially as the company continues to focus on premium devices.

Renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has shared insights about the 2025 iPhone SE on Medium.com, indicating that “mass production of the iPhone SE4 will commence in December 2024, with an estimated output of around 8.6 million units from December 2024 to the first quarter of 2025.”

Competing with Other Mid-Range Models

The iPhone SE will naturally be compared to the Google Pixel 8a and the Samsung Galaxy S24 Fan Edition. Both models are aimed at the mid-range market and are based on more expensive flagship devices.

Google introduced the Pixel 8a in May 2024, and the Pixel lineup is now in its ninth generation. A Pixel 9a is anticipated to be launched during Google’s I/O Developer event in May. This places the iPhone SE in a favorable position against the Pixel 8a, although it may face stiffer competition from the Pixel 9a shortly after its own release.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is nearing the end of its product cycle, as it was released in January 2024 alongside the Galaxy S24, S24+, and S24 Ultra models. The S24 FE will be about six months older than the iPhone SE and could be overshadowed by the upcoming S25 branding in January 2025, making it appear outdated.

Apple’s Strategic Positioning

Apple typically markets the iPhone SE as comparable in capability to the main iPhone lineup. This will likely remain true for the upcoming version. As Tim Cook and his team focus on entering the generative AI sector, the iPhone SE is expected to be presented as an affordable option with strong AI capabilities, designed to support Apple’s generative AI tools.

Given that Android competitors in this price range are heavily invested in AI, with Google and Samsung’s devices utilizing second-generation AI software, it is crucial for Apple to establish a presence in the AI landscape within this competitive market.

The iPhone SE is more than just a smartphone; it enhances Apple’s ecosystem and allows the company to penetrate the mid-range market while maintaining a sense of premium quality. Without the SE, Apple risks losing access to current technology, falling behind in the evolving generative AI space, and giving up the entry-level smartphone market to competitors.

Production of the iPhone SE cannot begin soon enough.